King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa

DESCRIPTION: Except for condors, the king vulture is the largest New World Vulture. Length: 32 inches, Wingspan: 4 feet

FOUND: In dense tropical forests Brazil, Venezuela, South Mexico etc. .

DIET & BEHAVIOR: King Vultures have been observed watching and then following other kinds of vultures in to a carcass. King vultures and condors lack carcass-smelling ability completely so will soar high above the turkey vultures and yellow-heads, which stay generally near the tree canopy level. The circling and casting back and forth of the carrion sniffers signal a detected carcass, and they begin their descent. These larger vultures will take over the carcass for a while, which actually works out very well. King vultures have a very heavy beak, a necessary asset for tearing into thick-skinned large animals. The king vulture is often the only one large and powerful enough to rip open the tough hide of the carcass, allowing entry to the inside. It takes its fill and then vacates, making way for the others.

BREEDING & GROWTH: King Vultures are known to nest on or near the ground, in stumps or down logs, using existing substrate with little or no nest arrangement. Males and females are identical and nearly the same size. Usually only one egg is laid and both parents incubate. The juvenile chick's plumage is brown. It leaves the nest area at about one year old, and begins acquiring adult plumage at 18 months.